Divinity: Original Sin II

Select Your Instrument: Musical Character Customization in Divinity: Original Sin II

This work-in-progress paper by Ragnhild Solberg examines the musical character customization feature in Divinity: Original Sin II (Larian Studios, 2017), in which players select a lead "origin instrument" during character creation.

• The paper argues that the musical origin-instrument choice in Divinity: Original Sin II (Larian Studios, 2017) is more than cosmetic: it shapes world-building, the characterization of the player's avatar, and the player's sense of identity.
• The four selectable instruments are the bansuri, cello, oud, and tambura, each analyzed for its historical and geographical context and its traditionally associated styles, moods, and keys.
• The instrument-choice mechanic reflects the game's narrative of individuals ascending toward godhood, while the pastoral, bard-like associations of the melodic material cast the player character more as a storyteller than a deity.